Health coverage travel insurance abroad (please click for source) is a formal requirement for European visa applications. A surprising number of people learn the hard way that consulates check carefully. Schengen requirements set specific minimums — a thirty thousand euro minimum across all twenty-six member states. The policy needs to handle medical emergencies, medical evacuation if needed, and cover for all states the visa permits visiting. Coverage missing any of these elements cannot support a successful visa application. Past the minimum legal threshold, the formal requirement is the floor rather than the goal. Healthcare prices in Europe span an enormous range. A minor procedure sometimes generates costs running into thousands of euros. Major medical events without coverage can mean tens of thousands in expenses. When choosing a plan, read the actual policy terms. Coverage limits matter enormously. A cheap policy with low limits can satisfy visa requirements while providing weak protection. The right strategy treats the formal requirement as a starting point since good protection costs only modestly more than weak protection.